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Agriculture Ministry tightens controls on chilli import

The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry is tightening controls on the import of chillies that do not meet quality and safety standards, as well as other regulations relating to pesticide residues.

Agriculture Minister Salahuddin Ayub said today the government had suspended the import permit for Vietnamese red chilli since Sept 14, after being found to contain pesticide residues above the permissible level, but the commodity was still found in the local market.

Since then, he said, the ministry, through the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection services (MAQIS), has been working with the Customs Department and the Health Ministry to prevent the entry of imported chilli into the country.

"A new case was reported on Dec 17, where MAQIS detained three containers in Port Klang that were found to contain Vietnamese chilli and dragonfruit without a valid import permit,” he said, adding that there were 14,250 kg of Vietnamese chilli in each container.

Salahuddin said this to reporters this after an event in Simpang Jeram today.

Yesterday, the Health Ministry confirmed that a small sample of chillies sold in local markets was not in compliance with the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 relating to pesticide residues.

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